Pen to Paper

Michael Adams – Jon Ludvig Nilssen Hammer
World Chess Federation Grand Prix 2017; first stage; Sharjah, February 22, 2017
Giuoco Piano C50

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. 0-0 Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. c3 d6 7. a4 0-0 8. Re1 Kh8 9. h3 h6 10. Na3 Bxa3 11. Rxa3 Be6. It’s almost incredible – from an amateur’s point of view – that Black’s last two moves may rise to the dignity of a strategy. Computers changed the world too much. 12. Bxe6 fxe6 13. d4. White already enjoys a safe and lasting advantage, and given the lack of counterplay Black can only hope for a miracle. It won’t happen. 13. ... Qe8 14. dxe5 Nxe5 15. Nxe5 dxe5 16. a5 Rd8 17. Qe2 Qc6 18. Rb3 Rd7 19. Rb4 Rfd8 20. Be3 Kg8 21. Qc4 Rd1 22. Rxd1 Rxd1+ 23. Kh2 Qxc4 24. Rxc4 c6 25. Rb4 Rd7 26. Kg3 Kf7 27. Kf3 g5 28. Ba7! Ng8 29. h4! gxh4 30. Kg4 Ne7 31. Be3 Ng8 32. Kxh4 Ke8 33. Rb3 Rg7 34. g4 Rf7 35. c4 Rd7 36. Ba7 Nf6 37. f3 Rf7 38. Bb8 Nd7 39. Bd6 Kd8 40. Kh5 Rf6 41. Rd3! Black is so much in Zugzwang that he would like not to move!

41. ... Ke8 42. Bb4! Intending Bb4-d2xh6. 42. ... c5 43. Bd2 Rf7 44. Bxh6 Nf6+ 45. Kg6 Ng8 46. Bg5 1 : 0. Looking and finding the amazing Spider-Man!

Michael Adams
Photo © Maria Yassakova/Agon Limited